NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment visit VAST
The working session was a forum for leaders and scientists from VAST to raise their voice about real situations and propose ideas to complete the system of laws, mechanism and policies on investment in science and technology in Vietnam, to address those situations if needed.. Based on this content, NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment would discuss and give consultancy to NA to approve law projects and budgets for science and technology as well as contribute ideas to national socio-economic development programmes.
The working session was a forum for leaders and scientists from VAST to raise their voice about real situations and propose ideas to complete the system of laws, mechanism and policies on investment in science and technology in Vietnam, to address those situations if needed.. Based on this content, NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment would discuss and give consultancy to NA to approve law projects and budgets for science and technology as well as contribute ideas to national socio-economic development programmes.
On behalf of leaders from VAST, Prof. Cong, made a report on the implementation of policies and laws on investment in science, technology and environmental protection at VAST for the period 2006-2011.
Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong, VAST vice president
In the 2006-2011 period, the state budget for science and technology and VAST in particular has increased every year despite of difficulties. In 2011, the state budget target for VAST was 575.3 billion VND, almost all of which was from expenses for the cause of science. In addition, VAST also promoted the application of scientific results in practical life. In 2011, units under VAST, carried out 1132 economic contracts, with a capital of 213 billion VND.
Leaders and scientists from VAST have made great effort to conduct studies. As a result, VAST is a leading unit in Vietnam having international publications on intellectual property registration. In 2011, VAST made public 1,612 scientific works. 334 works were printed in prestigious journals meeting IST standard. Many works were published in magazines,which have a high impact factor. Several outstanding products of the Academy were the Vietnamese Traditional Medicine "Heantos" to Treat Heroin, the hanging lake technology solution, the Atlas on the natural condition and environment of the East Sea and its surroundings. VAST also made significant contributions to the earthquake and tsunami warnings, study and investigation in ecology and creature resources, materials products, chemistry, natural compound, and the construction of space technology infrastructure.
The Academy invested over 350 billion VND during the 2006-2011 period. The general investment was 289.5 billion VND. With the above investment, the Academy has carried out 22 investment projects, including projects on building national key laboratories, strengthening the earthquake observing network for earthquake and tsunami warnings, and implementing the strategy on studying and applying space technology until 2020.
VAST completed 100% of their plans. All the projects were carried out as its approved objectives and content stipulated. All completed works met the demand of working and studying establishment of institutes and laboratories. All finished projects were independently audited without waste, loss and investment infringement. They were accessed to ensure present regulations on construction investment and management and followed the master development plan of the Academy in the 2000-2010 period, approved by the Prime Minister.
However, the digit of more than 50 billion VND each year satisfies only 60% of real demand, and reaches nearly 20% in comparison with allocated expense. Therefore, the demand of building working areas and equipment for laboratories has not been met. Institutes still lack working offices and modern facilities for studying, developing, piloting and germinating technology.
During the working session, VAST leaders mentioned “master development plan of VAST until 2020 and a frameworks until for 2030” as an important mark which opens VAST’s new development era. To achieve objectives proposed in the plan, VAST needs to receive the care of the Party and the Government, support and coordination of ministries, committees and relevant agencies. VAST also asked the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment to communicate the Academy’s proposals about training programmes for young cadres, mechanism to attract talent and effectively use highly qualified scientific cadres, assigning to the major academies science and technology programmes for the state, tasks of science and technology consultancy and appraisal in nationaly important projects.
Scientists from VAST submitted confidential ideas about the role of scientists in appraising effect and forecasting in nationaly important projects.
Professor and Academic Nguyen Van Hieu said that after retirement, over the past 18 years of conducting scientific study, he realized that investment in science, especially for basic study, had not been cared for appropriately. He asked the Party and the State to further invest and care properly for science and technology.
Professor and Academician Nguyen Van Hieu
Prof. Acad. Hieu wondered about the right of scientists to participate in national issues such as nuclear power and hydroelectricity. As a citizen and a scientist, he said that scientists were looking forward to participating and raising ideas to the Party, the Government and bringing their ability and intellect to help the state supervise, follow and give orientations to national works. This would make a contribution to socio-economic development as well as a safety net for people and for national sustainable development.
Dr. Pham Hong Quang, director of the Center for Information Infrastructure Development, said that he agreed with ideas made by Prof. Acad. Hieu. He said that scientists who were sent to be trained in the Soviet Union had not been appreciated, although theirs profession abilities completely equaled their colleagues in the region. First reason was orientation for science and technology. Scientific issues needed long-term research. However, there little investment in scientific issues. Therefore, it was difficult to obtain good results. We still spent multiplied sums of money to buy technology from foreign countries while investment (the sum of money to invest is less than the sum of money to buy technology) for Vietnamese scientists to create equivalent technology at less cost. Research results and the role of Vietnamese scientists had not been appropriately accessed and used.
Dr. Pham Hong Quang, director the Center for Information Infrastructure Development
According to Hoang Minh Hoa, NA deputy from the southern province of Bac Lieu, investment in science and technology was spread and inflexible. The state needs to consider restructuring the institute system, in order to invest properly to make a breakthrough on create key products for national science and technology.
Hoang Minh Hoa, NA deputy from the southern province of Bac Lieu
Concluding the working session, Mr. Phan Xuan Dung recognized and answered questions of deputies. He hoped that the first working session would open many opportunities for cooperation between the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment and VAST to enhance the overall contribution from national science and technology to national socio-economic benefit.
Pham Xuan Dung, chairman of NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment
During the working visit of the delegation from NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment to VAST, the delegation also visited units under VAST, including the National Key Laboratory of Genomics under the Institute of Biotechology, the Center for Earthsquake and Tsunami Warning under the Institute of Geophysics, and the Institute of Chemistry.
The delegation visited the Institute of Biotechnology
The delegation visited the Center for Earthquake and Tsunami Warning
The delegation visited the Institute of Chemistry
